Cup system for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated cups to a mouth of a user

The present invention relates generally to a drinking cup system, and more specifically to a drinking cup with multiple reservoirs.

Various systems and processes are known in the art for drinking cup with multiple reservoirs.

A cup is a type of container used to hold liquids for pouring or drinking, storing solids for pouring (e.g., sugar, flour, grains), etc. Cups may be made of materials such as glass, metal, plastic, or other suitable materials. In some cases, cups may be fixed with a stem or a handle to assist the user in using the cup. Different cups can be used for different types of contents as well as for different types of applications (e.g., such as a coffee mug for coffee, pint glasses for cocktails, water bottles for water or sports drinks, etc.).

Traditionally, a cup includes a reservoir for holding such contents (e.g., whether the contents be solid or liquid). In some cases, a user may desire to keep certain contents separate, which may require multiple cups. There is a need in the art for a cup that can efficiently hold different contents of different types (e.g., such as solid contents and liquid contents), without requiring the contents be mixed within a single reservoir of the cup.

An apparatus, system, and method for a drinking cup with multiple reservoirs are described. Specifically, an apparatus, system, and method for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated areas of a cup system to a mouth of a user are described.

In some embodiments, a cup system for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated cups to a mouth of a user is described. One or more aspects of the cup system include an outer cup, a lid, a cap, and an inner cup. In some aspects, the outer cup is configured to hold a liquid edible product and the inner cup is configured to hold a dry edible product.

The outer cup includes an upper lip comprising a threaded surface configured to engage with a mating threaded surface.

The lid comprises an outer wall, an inner wall, a fluid passage, and a vent hole. The outer wall has a lower outer lip comprising the mating threaded surface, wherein the mating threaded surface is configured to engage with the threaded surface. The inner wall defines a central opening, wherein a top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall, the inner wall comprising at least one engagement feature configured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a cap and having a lower inner lip configured to engage with an inner cup. The fluid passage in the lid is interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid, wherein the inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening.

The cap comprises the mating engagement feature and an opening. The mating engagement feature is configured to engage with the inner wall engagement feature, whereby upon engagement of the engagement features the cap is removably coupled to the lid and the central opening is spanned by the cap.

The inner cup comprises an engaging lip and a flange. The engaging lip is configured to engage with the lower inner lip and configured to form a seal between the inner cup and the lid. The flange is located below the engaging lip and extending outward from a periphery of the inner cup, wherein when the cup system is assembled by placing a first contents in the inner cup and engaging the lid with the inner cup, the outer cup, and the cap, wherein the cap opening is configured to pass the first contents out of the inner cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup.

A method and system for providing a cup system for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated areas to a mouth of a user are described. One or more aspects of the method and system include providing an inner cup configured to hold a contents, wherein the inner cup includes an engaging lip and a flange located below the engaging lip and extending outward from a periphery of the inner cup. The method and system include coupling a lid to the inner cup, the lid having an inner wall with an inner lip configured to engage with the inner cup. The coupling further includes engaging the engaging lip of the inner cup with the inner lip of the lid, and the inner wall further includes at least one engagement feature configured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a cap. The lid further comprises an outer wall having an outer lip comprising a threaded surface, where a top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall. The inner wall further defines a central opening, and the lid further includes a vent hole and a fluid passage interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid, where the inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening.

The method and system further include coupling an outer cup to the lid by engaging a threaded surface of an upper lip of the cup to the threaded surface of the outer lip of the lid, where the inner cup is nested within the outer cup with a space between the outer cup and the inner cup. The method and system include coupling a cap to the lid by engaging an engagement feature of the cap with the inner wall engagement feature, where the cap is removably coupled to the lid and an opening in the cap provides a passage to an interior of the inner cup, and where the cap opening is configured to pass the contents out of the inner cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup.

A method and system for using a drinking cup with multiple reservoirs are also described. One or more aspects of the method and system include retaining an inner cup holding a first contents, wherein the inner cup includes an engaging lip, and a flange located below the engaging lip and extending outward from a periphery of the inner cup. The method and system include coupling a lid to the inner cup, the lid having an inner wall with an inner lip configured to engage with the inner cup. The coupling further includes engaging the engaging lip of the inner cup with the inner lip of the lid, the inner wall further including at least one engagement feature configured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a cap. The lid includes an outer wall having an outer lip comprising a threaded surface, wherein a top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall. The inner wall further defining a central opening, the lid further including a vent hole and a fluid passage interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid, wherein the inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening.

The method and system further include retaining a second contents in an outer cup and coupling the outer cup to the lid by engaging a threaded surface of an upper lip of the outer cup to the threaded surface of the outer lip of the lid, whereby the inner cup is nested within the outer cup with a space between the outer cup and the inner cup and the second contents in the space. The method and system further include coupling a cap to the lid by engaging an engagement feature of the cap with the inner wall engagement feature, whereby the cap is removably coupled to the lid and an opening in the cap provides a passage to an interior of the inner cup, whereby the cup system is formed.

The method and system include inverting, at least partially, the cup system such that the cap opening is located above the fluid passage, whereby the second contents is discharged through the fluid passage and the first contents is simultaneously discharged through the cap opening.

A cup system for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated areas to a mouth of a user is described. One or more aspects of the apparatus and system include an outer cup comprising an upper lip comprising a threaded surface configured to engage with a mating threaded surface. One or more aspects of the apparatus and system include a lid comprising an outer wall having a lower outer lip comprising the mating threaded surface, the mating threaded surface configured to engage with the threaded surface. The lid includes an inner wall defining a central opening, wherein a top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall, the inner wall comprising at least one engagement feature configured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a cap, the inner wall further comprising an inner ledge configured to support an outer flange of a pod cup. The lid further includes a fluid passage and a vent. The fluid passage in the lid is interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid, wherein the inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening.

One or more aspects of the apparatus and system include a pod cup comprising an engaging lip including the outer flange configured to seat on and be supported by the inner lip of the lid such that a body of the pod cup extends downwards from the lid and an interior volume of the pod cup is in communication with the central opening. One or more aspects of the apparatus and system include a cap comprising the mating engagement feature configured to engage with the inner wall engagement feature, whereby upon engagement of the engagement features the cap is removably coupled to the lid and the central opening is spanned by the cap. The cap includes a lower rim configured such that when the engagement features are engaged, the outer flange is compressibly interposed between the inner lip of the lid and the lower rim of the cap, whereby a fluid seal is formed between the pod cup, the cap, and the lid. The cap further includes an opening, such that when the cup system is assembled by placing a contents in the inner cup and engaging the lid with the pod cup, the outer cup and the cap, the cap opening is configured to pass the contents out of the inner cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup.

A method for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated areas to a mouth of a user is described. One or more aspects of the method include removing a pod lid from a pod cup and exposing a first contents held within the pod cup, the pod cup comprising an engaging lip including an outer flange configured to seat on and be supported by a lid of the cup system such that a body of the pod cup extends downwards from the lid and an interior volume of the pod cup is in communication with a central opening of the lid. One or more aspects of the method include inserting the pod into the central opening of the lid, the lid having an inner wall with an inner lip configured to engage with the inner cup. The coupling further includes engaging the engaging lip of the inner cup with the inner lip of the lid, the inner wall further comprising at least one engagement feature configured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a cap, and the lid further comprising an outer wall having an outer lip comprising a threaded surface. A top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall, the inner wall further defining the central opening, and the lid further comprising a vent hole and a fluid passage interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid. The inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening; retaining a second contents in an outer cup.

One or more aspects of the method further include coupling the outer cup to the lid by engaging a threaded surface of an upper lip of the outer cup to the threaded surface of the outer lip of the lid, whereby the inner cup is nested within the outer cup with a space between the outer cup and the inner cup and the second contents in the space. One or more aspects of the method include coupling, removably, the cap to the lid by engaging the mating engagement feature with the inner wall engagement feature, whereby the outer flange is compressibly interposed between the inner lip of the lid and the lower rim of the cap. Further, a fluid seal is formed between the pod cup, the cap, and the lid. The cap opening is configured to pass the contents out of the inner cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup.

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The present disclosure relates generally to a drinking cup system, and more specifically to a drinking cup with multiple reservoirs for simultaneous delivery of contents from separated reservoirs to a mouth of a user. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cup system with a containment volume for a liquid content and another containment volume for a solid content. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a pod (e.g., a prefilled pod, a disposable pod, a reusable pod, etc.) that contains a solid content for consumption for use in conjunction within the cup system.

Traditional cups or cup systems provide a single reservoir (e.g., a single volume) for storing content. If a user wants to combine both a solid content and a liquid content, the user would be required to mix the two in a single vessel. In some cases, a user may wish to maintain certain contents separately. For instance, in the case of milk and cereal, mixing such contents may cause the cereal to become soggy over time. There is a need in the art for improved cup systems such that users may separately store contents without requiring multiple cup systems, which may otherwise be more cumbersome for the user to manage.

The present disclosure describes a portable cup system where contents (e.g., solid content and liquid content) can be separated until the user desires mixing of the contents (e.g., or separate access to each of the contents). For example, a user can access a solid content from one of the containment volumes, then the user can access liquid content separately. As such, the cup system may separately store, and provide simultaneous access to, multiple contents that do not mix until the user chooses to do so.

shows an example of a perspective view of the cup systemaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, cup systemincludes outer cup, lid, and cap. Cup systemis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

shows an example of a cross section of the cup systemaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, cup systemincludes outer cup, inner cup, lid, cap, and engagement feature. Cup systemis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

A cup systemfor simultaneous delivery of contents from separated cups to a mouth of a user is described. One or more aspects of the cup systeminclude an outer cup, a lid, a cap, and an inner cup. In some aspects, the outer cupis configured to hold a liquid edible product and the inner cupis configured to hold a dry edible product.

Outer cupincludes an upper lip comprising a threaded surfaceconfigured to engage with a mating threaded surface. Outer cupfurther comprises outer cup inner surface.

Lidincludes an outer wall having a lower outer lip comprising the mating threaded surface, the mating threaded surfaceconfigured to engage with the threaded surface. Lidfurther includes an inner wall defining a central opening, wherein a top edge of the inner wall is connected to a top edge of the outer wall, the inner wall comprising at least one engagement featureconfigured to engage with a mating engagement feature in a capand having a lower inner lip configured to engage with an inner cup. The inner wall of the lidincludes engagement featurefor aligning the capto the lid. The lid may include one or more engagement featuresand the cap may include one or more mating engagement features. The engagement featureis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Lidfurther comprises lid inner surface.

Further, a fluid passage in the lidis interposed between the lower outer lip and an inner edge of the lid, where the inner edge is at a periphery of the central opening. The lidincludes a vent hole. In some aspects, the fluid passage may provide the content of the outer cupto the user.

Capincludes the mating engagement feature configured to engage with the inner wall engagement featureof the lid. Upon engagement of the engagement features the capis removably coupled to the lidand the central opening is spanned by the cap. The capfurther includes an opening (e.g., as described in more detail herein, for example, with reference to).

Inner cupincludes an engaging lipconfigured to engage with the lower inner lip of the lidand configured to form a seal between the inner cupand the lid. Inner cupfurther includes an inner cup outer surfaceand a flangelocated below the engaging lipthat extends outward from a periphery of the inner cup outer surface. The cup systemis assembled by placing a first contents in the inner cupand engaging the lidwith the inner cup, the outer cup, and the cap, whereby spaceis formed between the inner cup outer surface, the outer cup inner surface, and lid inner surface. As shown in, the flangeextends past the inner wall of the lid and into the space. The capopening is configured to pass the first contents out of the inner cup(e.g., in response to at least partial inversion of the cup).

In some aspects, the capand the inner wall of the lidfurther include matching key structures such that coupling of the capto the inner wall requires matching of the key structures.

Some examples of the apparatus, system, and method further include an outer surface of the outer wall comprising a textured surface for gripping.

Some examples of the apparatus, system, and method further include a threaded plug including a flangemade of insulating materials, wherein the threaded plug is configured to couple to the lidin place of the inner cup.

Some examples of the apparatus, system, and method further include an interference fit plug including a flangemade of insulating materials, wherein the threaded plug is configured to couple to the lidin place of the inner cup.

In some aspects, the at least one engagement featureof the inner wall includes at least one horizontal indentation. In some aspects, the mating engagement feature of the capincludes at least one horizontal boss, wherein the at least one horizontal boss and the at least one horizontal indentation form a snap-lock coupling.

The outer cupmay include male or female threads or use a push-on connection into the lidwith seals. The outer cupmay be plastic, stainless steel, or any other composites to aid in cosmetic and insulation properties.

Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure may include a male thread or a female thread for the inner cupand outer cupconnection.

In some examples, the inner cupmay include a baffle and male or female threads. The baffle may also be a push-onto lid. The baffle can be molded into lidas one unit or can be a separate ring. In some examples, a baffle ring may be used for flow control. The inner cupmay accept the pods.

In one aspect, outer cupincludes threaded surface. Outer cupis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Inner cupis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. In one aspect, inner cupincludes engaging lipand flange. Engaging lipis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Flangeis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. In one aspect, lidincludes mating threaded surface. Lidis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Capis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

shows an example of a top view of the cup systemaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, cup systemincludes lidand cap. In one aspect, lidincludes fluid passageand vent hole. In one aspect, capincludes opening. Cup systemis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

As described herein, the openingof the capis configured to pass the first contents (e.g., solid contents, dry contents, edible contents, etc.) out of the inner cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup system. Further, the vent holemay be configured to pass other contents (e.g., liquid contents, wet contents, drinkable contents, etc.) out of the outer cup in response to at least partial inversion of the cup system.

Lidis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Fluid passageis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Vent holeis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Capis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to. Openingis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

shows an example of a lidof the cup system according to aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, lidincludes outer wall, inner wall, fluid passage, vent hole, and engagement feature. Lidis an example of, or includes aspects of, the corresponding element described with reference to.

Lidmay include a top rim interposed between the top edge of the outer walland the top edge of the inner wall. In some aspects, the fluid passageis located in the top rim.

In some aspects, the top rim is angled upward from the fluid passagesuch that the fluid passageis positioned at a trough of the top rim. In some aspects, the rim arcs slightly and continuously upward from the fluid passage.

In some aspects, vent holeis located in the top rim. In some aspects, the fluid passageis an open slot. In some aspects, the vent holeis located generally opposite to the fluid passage. In some examples, the vent holeis located next to the fluid passage. Alternatively, the vent and fluid passagemay be located at any position on the lid.

In some aspects, an outer surface of a portion of the lidsurrounding the vent holeis a raised convex oval shape. In some examples, the corresponding lower surface of the portion is a concave oval shape.